I don't see anyone "whining." The point of this thread was to ask why a thread was closed. Then the reason was given that it was about gun discussion.

After seeing that that was the reason given and seeing that there have been several "gun" discussions recently, I simply asked what the rationale was for that particular rule and where the lines were drawn (See posts 7 & 10). I'm pretty sure that's what the feedback forum is for.

So far X has been the only mod that has posted any reasoning behind this particular rule and he still wasn't sure. Other posters felt the need to reply and start a whole nother discussion on the topic of guns instead of the forum's rules on them.

The whole Guns=freedom issue was covered in another post as was the whole private forum argument.

Does that cover everything?

No John, I was referring to the condescending, self-righteous tone of that post, which is what I theorized would the problem in any thread of that type.

My apologies, but it is no different than any thread in the politics forum.

And I don't mean to keep dragging this thread out, I'm still just waiting on an answer from a mod about my questions.

And from the link posted on the first page:
Well DVDTalks membership just shrank to triple digits.

Let me help you out. The point of this thread is to see why another thread re: guns was closed.

Thanks for your blessing.

Great. We should adhere to rules. I'm in agreement. Then I'll refer you to post #1, which stated the "rule" and then asked how the original thread did in fact violate the rules.

I'd love to see an answer to the question as well, since reading the original thread, I wouldn't have thought the content was against the stated rule either. If the stated rule is in fact more expansive than it's worded, it would be a good idea to revamp the rule so everybody knows what the real rule is, don't you think? It would also seem like the feedback forum is an appropriate place to give and receive feedback on such a topic, so I'm not sure why you'd attempt to direct people elsewhere.

Here's the original thread with GKleinman's comments:

Closing a firearms-related thread

Did you read the original thread titled "I want to Buy a Gun - Advise" or are you just going by the first post of this thread?

I have had correspondence with the OP who is willing to revise the thread to be less about how to buy a gun and more about how to learn about handling them. And in that correspondence he indicated that the entire matter is much less of a deal than apparently everyone in this thread is making it out to be.

Currently I'm waiting for Geoff to comment on the propriety of the thread in its proposed modified form.

I did read the thread when it was posted, although I can't access it anymore, so I can't go back and re-read it.

The particular thread is really not a big deal to me in any case. Geoff has been candid about his bias, and the forums are his, so :shrug: . I certainly don't start gun threads. The only reason I really even responded in this thread was because one or two members came in here with a "like it or leave it" stance with regard to gun threads, and I feel that's inappropriate, given the forum's limited prohibition in the user rules, as compared to the broader prohibition stated by Geoff in this thread. If you'll notice, in that thread too I said it would be nice if the official policy was clarified. If the forum's official policy is no gun threads period, as that thread would indicate, you would think it would be explicitly in the rules rather than buried in a thread from 2004.

Like I said, the rules on this have been applied in a fairly scattershot manner over the years. For example, I remember a thread by ukwyldcat about his trips to the Front Sight shooting school that remained open for weeks (and is apparently still open), the content of which is seemingly in contravention of Geoff's statement (although not in contravention of the official forum rules), while threads like this one got shut down right away.

Actually, DVD Talk has not had a "whole forum dedicated for porn" for months, so your reasoning is faulty. The industry itself has not harmed anyone that was not on the road to ruin from what I've been told too.

On the topic of guns, perhaps it should be made clearer than it has been of late but here's the rule as posted: "Posting links or information about where to purchase or sell drugs, guns or ammunition." For the record, advertisers pay a lot to promote their goods in this area, punctuating G!'s personal beliefs about the topic. If IB feels differently, I'm sure they'll be able to find someone less qualified to run the website though... ;)

Geoff, any way you can be bribed to loosen up the policy? I have a whole batch of deer jerky baking in the oven ;)

OK, seriously, after reading that other thread I think I have a better understanding of what is and isn't allowed. Is it safe to say that as long as we don't talk specifics about where to buy/sell guns and ammo or as someone mentioned in the other thread "threads designed merely to drool over guns" we will be ok? If a topic comes up where certain issues arise where the discussion turns to types of guns/laws about them/etc we will be fine to have that discussion? For example you can look at the current mall shooting thread in other where they are discussing CCPs.

I know that there are plenty of other forums that are actually dedicated to guns but we have a small e-community here where we get to know a lot about other posters such as their personalities, characteristics, hobbies, personal life, etc; it would be nice to discuss one of my hobbies with those same people and know what their feelings are about it. I just don't want to cross a line in doing so.